CHIEFS BRING THEIR FANS CRASHING BACK TO REALITY
I sure wish we could've spent another week or two with the Chiefs' team that squeaked out an overtime win against the Steelers. Instead, we were forced back to reality, to watch the football version of the Keystone Cops. The version that played San Diego last month & Philly & the Giants earlier in the season. Chiefs' telecasts should begin with those warning announcements you see before "Nip/Tuck" or "Big Love". You know, "Parental discretion is advised, the following program may contain images that can be frightening & disturbing."
This game had it all. Dropped passes on 3rd down, a quarterback who's regressing, a center who hasn't mastered a 4-yard shotgun snap, fumbles, an interception, a partially blocked kick, an invisible 1st round draft pick, a defense that yielded 400+ yards yet again & a safety. It was all there for your viewing displeasure.
In Todd Haley's "process", I guess you take one step forward & then three backwards. Once again I'll ask the question, "Anyone see improvement?" Other than a promising day running the football which was cast aside when the game got out of hand with multiple turnovers. Other than that, I saw nothing to be hopeful about, nothing that a team can build on, nothing to feel good about.
I'll give Jamaal Charles a break on his fumble, he was fighting for an extra yard when he was picked clean. I'll give Glenn Dorsey a pass, he recorded 7 tackles again. I'd say Chris Chambers played O.K. in his return to San Diego. The run defense appeared statistically to play well, but remember the Chargers were playing with a patchwork O-Line.
The cold, hard facts are Matt Cassel was terrible, his fumble was really embarrassing. When he gets outside the pocket & runs, it appears he has no concept of where the first down marker is. Many of his passes were way off target.
Also in the terrible column was center Rudy Niswanger & his errant snaps in shotgun formation. One sailed way over Cassel's head while another sailed over Jamaal Charles' head, who was 2 yards to Cassel's right. Totally inexcusable.
Leonard Pope reminds me of Lurch from "The Adams Family" the way he plods around. I think the touchdown he scored last week was an anomaly, not something we'll see again.
How many more passes does Mark Bradley have to drop before Todd Haley stops putting him out there? Activating Quinten Lawrence from the practice squad really energized the kickoff return game didn't it? Does this guy ever make the first tackler miss? If you claim he has, I'm going to need documentation please.
First round draft pick, Tyson Jackson, could be in the witness protection program for all I know. He's certainly been invisible for most of this season. What am I saying? I just remembered a 3rd & 3, Jackson got his name mentioned by referee Don Carey for jumping offsides & giving San Diego a 1st down they didn't earn. So no, it clear he isn't invisible.
Next week Denver travels to Arrowhead, which Denver team will show on Sunday? The one that smoked the Giants on Thanksgiving or the Bronco squad that was defeated by their last 4 opponents including Washington? Which Chiefs' team will Todd Haley send out to do battle with the Broncos? The one that won back-to-back games against Oakland & Pittsburgh or the punchless, pathetic gang we watched today?
My advice for Chiefs' viewing would be to keep your remote handy for quick flipping to a real football game if this one starts to go really sour. A stash of over-the-counter remedies for headache, heartburn & nausea would be a responsible move as well, especially if you're planning on subjecting company to join you in your Chiefs' viewing. Good luck, you've been warned.
This game had it all. Dropped passes on 3rd down, a quarterback who's regressing, a center who hasn't mastered a 4-yard shotgun snap, fumbles, an interception, a partially blocked kick, an invisible 1st round draft pick, a defense that yielded 400+ yards yet again & a safety. It was all there for your viewing displeasure.
In Todd Haley's "process", I guess you take one step forward & then three backwards. Once again I'll ask the question, "Anyone see improvement?" Other than a promising day running the football which was cast aside when the game got out of hand with multiple turnovers. Other than that, I saw nothing to be hopeful about, nothing that a team can build on, nothing to feel good about.
I'll give Jamaal Charles a break on his fumble, he was fighting for an extra yard when he was picked clean. I'll give Glenn Dorsey a pass, he recorded 7 tackles again. I'd say Chris Chambers played O.K. in his return to San Diego. The run defense appeared statistically to play well, but remember the Chargers were playing with a patchwork O-Line.
The cold, hard facts are Matt Cassel was terrible, his fumble was really embarrassing. When he gets outside the pocket & runs, it appears he has no concept of where the first down marker is. Many of his passes were way off target.
Also in the terrible column was center Rudy Niswanger & his errant snaps in shotgun formation. One sailed way over Cassel's head while another sailed over Jamaal Charles' head, who was 2 yards to Cassel's right. Totally inexcusable.
Leonard Pope reminds me of Lurch from "The Adams Family" the way he plods around. I think the touchdown he scored last week was an anomaly, not something we'll see again.
How many more passes does Mark Bradley have to drop before Todd Haley stops putting him out there? Activating Quinten Lawrence from the practice squad really energized the kickoff return game didn't it? Does this guy ever make the first tackler miss? If you claim he has, I'm going to need documentation please.
First round draft pick, Tyson Jackson, could be in the witness protection program for all I know. He's certainly been invisible for most of this season. What am I saying? I just remembered a 3rd & 3, Jackson got his name mentioned by referee Don Carey for jumping offsides & giving San Diego a 1st down they didn't earn. So no, it clear he isn't invisible.
Next week Denver travels to Arrowhead, which Denver team will show on Sunday? The one that smoked the Giants on Thanksgiving or the Bronco squad that was defeated by their last 4 opponents including Washington? Which Chiefs' team will Todd Haley send out to do battle with the Broncos? The one that won back-to-back games against Oakland & Pittsburgh or the punchless, pathetic gang we watched today?
My advice for Chiefs' viewing would be to keep your remote handy for quick flipping to a real football game if this one starts to go really sour. A stash of over-the-counter remedies for headache, heartburn & nausea would be a responsible move as well, especially if you're planning on subjecting company to join you in your Chiefs' viewing. Good luck, you've been warned.
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